And the Winner is...........Debbie at Cozy Cottage!!!

2008-03-11T09:33:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Debbie at Cozy Cottage!!! Her name was drawn as the winner of the pincushion. Thanks to all you girls who left a sweet comment. Have a great day everyone!!

Blog Giveaway and FREE GIFT Drawing at The Cottage Gate!!!

2008-03-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yes you heard correct....FREE, FREE & more FREE!!!

First is my BLOG GIVEAWAY for one of my sweet little handcrafted patchwork pincushions, so all you "stitchers" and friends leave a comment on this post and I will enter your name into a drawing which will be held on MARCH 11 - ONE WEEK FROM TODAY!!

And the freebies just keep coming. Make any purchase of $25.00 or more on my website (www.cottagegatedesigns.com) during the month of March and be entered into a drawing to win a special FREE GIFT - one of my hanging pocket pillows custom made for you in fabrics and colors you choose!!!

How fun is that???? Good luck girls!!!

New Creations at The Cottage Gate....

2008-02-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

Well, I've gotten behind on my blogging I'm sorry to say....but better late than never I always say.

I have been a busy bee creating lots of new lovelies for my website, boutique and my auctions. Check them out below....and check back soon for a new blog giveaway in the near future!!

Love is in the air.....NEW ANTIQUE VALENTINE POSTCARD PILLOWS!

2008-01-11T07:22:00.000-08:00

Well, the holidays are behind us and I have been getting inspired with all my wonderful antique Valetine postcard images. Here are my first creations, now available in my Ebay auctions, my MMP boutique and my website. I absolutely love the charm of these images. I will also be doing some hanging pocket pillows, some crazy quilt heart pillows and hopefully get to some altered art fabric Valentine pillows.
Check back for my latest designs and have a wonderful Winter day, wherever you are in the world!!

Merry Christmas & Post Christmas Sale!!!

2007-12-27T07:18:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I have just marked all Christmas pillows, ornaments and stockings, a whopping 50% off on my website!!

I am already planning for the new year - so many creations are brewing around in my head. Check back soon for updates.

Mid-December Holiday Discount at The Cottage Gate

2007-12-15T09:06:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful December, enjoying the "hustle and bustle" of the Holiday season. I am currently offering a 15% discount on your total order at my website www.cottagegatedesigns.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!!

Classic Sugar Cookies......A Christmas Tradition

2007-12-04T07:42:00.000-08:00

In honor of the MMP Blog Cookie exchange, I had to share our cookie tradition in our family. There is nothing special about the recipe, just a simple time worn Rolled Sugar Cookie from the old Betty Crocker cookbook. My sister and I made these cookies with my mom when we were little, and I have made them with my children since they could reach the counter. The key to these cookies is to chill the dough for several hours, and then the rolling and cutting can begin, in between nibbling on the dough because it is hands down, truly the best cookie dough to eat. The other key to these cookies is barely cooking them - we cook them about 6 minutes, so once they cool out of the oven they are nice and soft.
Then the frosting begins, a simple powdered sugar frosting with milk and a touch of vanilla. We mix up colors and I let the kids do whatever they want. They like to swirl all the colors sometimes, and some years they use sprinkles. They are so good we usually gobble them all up in a matter of days. So simple, yet so delectable. I think this year we will make a triple recipe so they will last longer!

I have almost completed my Christmas decorating....I do so enjoy getting it all out each year and setting up all the things I have collected over the years. I think I get more nostalgic each year, as my kids get older and things change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Some of my Christmas Treasures ~
My special "Twas the Night Before Christmas" dishes set up in my old china hutch - a gift from my husband.

The start of my vintage Santa collection, and my grandma's old "Twas the Night Before Christmas" book, from when she was a girl.

Its time to shop the MMP Christmas Extravaganza!!

2007-12-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

The Make Mine Pink Christmas Extravaganza has begun!!

Come shopping at The Cottage Gate and receive a whopping 20% off your entire order - just enter coupon code MMPC20. And that's not all! Any order over $25.00 receives one of my handcrafted Christmas ornaments FREE!

And don't forget to stop by the other MMP boutiques for more lovely items and special promotions this week only!

The MMP CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA is almost here.......

2007-11-29T06:39:00.000-08:00

Well the Make Mine Pink Christmas Extravaganza is set to start Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 9. Such a wonderful time to shop all the boutiques, who all have extra special promotions and discounts going on that week ONLY!! For a list of participating boutiques click here: http://www.makeminepink.com/dynamic/?page=21

Here at The Cottage Gate, I will be offering 20% off your entire order at my site www.cottagegatedesigns.com, and a free handcrafted ornament with each purchase of $25.00 or more. I have just added one of a kind Victorian postcard Christmas pillows, handcrafted ornaments and charming pink Christmas stockings!

For holiday gift giving, I also have lovely cottage pillows, new purses & purse sets, pincushions (perfect gift for the stitcher in your life), and hanging pocket pillows (perfect as gift certificate holders, or other keepsakes)

Victorian Angels and More Pink Christmas Creations....

2007-11-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

ell, I have been hard at work and wanted to share some of my new creations, available on my site and my Ebay auctions...

Victorian Angel Pink Roses "Hope" Stocking

Victorian angel image ornaments

Victorian girls Postcard "Wonder" altered Christmas pillow

Antique postcard Snowy bird Christmas Pillow

Check back soon for more details on Make Mine Pink's upcoming Christmas Extravaganza and Blog cookie swap!!

Altered Art Fabric Collage Christmas Pillows

2007-11-02T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been hard at work on my Christmas creations. These are a couple of my newest designs. For a while now I have been wanting to dabble in altered art fabric collage and the coming of Christmas was my inspiration, with all the wonderful antique Victorian postcard images that I use.

For the pink Christmas pillow, I used lots of vintage odds and ends - jewelry pieces, laces, Victorian ruffled sleeve remnant, pale green satin ribbon, buttons, rhinestones, hanky,beads.....The pillow has 2 vignettes - a Victorian Santa with "Merry Christmas" below and the Victorian angel holding a bell transfer appliqued to a pink rose fabric, accented with lace, tiny button and rhinestone and decoratively stitched around edge. It was then slipped into a vintage hanky pocket and has the quote "Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings" from the classic Its a Wonderful Life. Lots of detail and HOURS of work on this unique Christmas pillow.

The next pillow has the most wonderful old World Santa - I just love his face, and I could just see him leaning down and whispering "Do you Believe?" so that was the quote I used for center of the vintage doily next to him. I also used a vintage jewelry piece with a beautiful old clasp for accent. Various buttons, lace and decorative stitching too. This is a pocket pillow and I have slipped two handmade ornaments with 2 more postcard images of little girls imagining Santa - I just love the magic of these!! They have been decoratively stitched and antique silk ribbon bows are for hanging.

I so enjoyed the creative process of these 2 pieces - I hope you enjoy them as well. Now what to do next.....I'm thinking of Victorian angels (I've got a great quote!!) or Fairies or both!

And the winner of the Giveaway is.........

2007-10-31T06:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to sweet AMY @ BUNNY ROSE COTTAGE - her name was drawn and she will receive the darling little Thanksgiving pillow below. Thanks to all who entered my drawing and check back soon for info on my Christmas drawing.....

Drawing Day!!

2007-10-30T06:49:00.000-07:00

And the winner is........you'll have to wait till tomorrow!!! I have put all your names in my little basket and drawn out a WINNER! Yeah!! I wonder who the lucky girl is????

Check back tomorrow morning first thing and I will announce the winner! Have a great day!

6 More Days till Drawing!!!!....And a peak at Christmas....

2007-10-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

My October giveaway is almost at its end. Thanks to all who have left a comment so far. There are 6 more days to leave a comment and be entered in the drawing. I will draw the winner on OCTOBER 30 and announce on Halloween!! Winner will receive a one of a kind antique Thanksgiving postcard pillow with the image below, framed in vintage chenille. And while you are here stop over at the Make Mine Pink blog and sign up for the giveaway there too!!

I also just had to give you a little peak at some of my new PINK Christmas stockings and ornaments....check back often - I am creating new items each week!!

~ Available on my site ~

~Available in my MMP Boutique~

Arts & Crafts Autumn Show....

2007-10-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

I was a vendor at a local Arts & Crafts show this past weekend. The weather turned out wonderful, sunny with a cooler breeze. The show coordinated with an antique tractor show so brought in lots of shoppers. My dear mom came down to help me - I couldn't have done it without her. I had good sales and some custom orders so it was a success!!

A PINK HALLOWEEN.......

2007-10-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

I've had requests for my little antique postcard pillows on the PINKER side of things....so here they are!! They did turn out so sweet and I am taking custom orders for them all, the more traditional colored ones in last post and my new "pretty in pink" ones for those who love a Pink Halloween.....

~ Available in my MMP Boutique ~

~ Available on my Website ~

And don't forget to leave a comment this month to be entered into my drawing for the Thanksgiving pillow!!

Special Autumn Discount & Giveaway!!

2007-09-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Autumn is upon us....Yeah!!! We are finally feeling some cool mornings here in Texas. I am adding new purses and pillows in the hues of Autumn on my website... still lots of pinks but in deeper hues. I have also added a set of darling antique postcard Harvest pillows.

~In honor of the arrival of Fall I am offering a SPECIAL DISCOUNT on my website so check it out~

~Available in my MMP boutique~

And that's not all!!! I am also doing a special blog drawing and giveaway. Starting now through the end of October, post a comment on my blog and your name will be entered into a drawing for an antique postcard Thanksgiving pillow, designed with the darling image below. Good luck!!

Fall is here.......

2007-09-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Well, its still warm here in Texas, but I know Autumn is coming. The mornings are starting to hint of its arrival. Here are some of my new creations to herald the colors of Fall....

~A vintage fabric purse in a new design~

Look at that wonderful antique cameo with the tiny scene, as a button...

And one of my antique postcard transfer pillows with darling Victorian girls, just in time for Autumn with Halloween Greetings!

You can find all these items in my Ebay auctions this week!!

A Sewing Tea Party at The Cottage Gate

2007-09-12T06:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my old fashioned Sewing Tea Party, where we have gathered on the back porch, with our "stitching". There is a cool breeze this morning, which hints of the coming of Autumn....
Come and nestle into the comfy pillows and let's visit over a cup of Rose Tea in my great grandmother's china tea cups. The Ginger Crinkle cookies are still warm and have a wonderful aroma of cloves and cinnamon to tempt your tastebuds. These favorite spiced cookies always remind me of Autumn and that gentle shift into another season.

I imagine ladies of long ago might have done just this, as they sat over a cup of tea and a delightful sweet, working on their latest embroidery, lace tatting for a hankerchief, or a tiny baby bootie.

The Victorian ladies loved the art of crazy quilting...cozy up to this sweet little cottage style crazy quilted Rose Garden Tea pillow, a perfect accent at a tea party! Lay down your sewing for a bit to admire the handiwork of a friend nearby...

Enjoy this little moment....good conversation, tea and treats, and breathe in the first taste of Fall...

Thank you for stopping by my tea party on this lovely morning! Enjoy your day of visiting and Happy Stitchin'!

So many TEA PARTIES.....

2007-09-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the MMP bloggers all week virtual tea parties.....its going to be such fun!! Make sure and visit the MMP Blog for a list of all the tea parties going on.

My own tea party will be later in the week so come back to visit. Here are a couple clues - think old fashioned "stitching" and the coming of Fall.....

See you for tea in a few days!!

Time for a Tea Party....

2007-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Fill your week with Tea Parties !!!

Starting Monday September 10, have a fun filled week with the
Make Mine Pink Bloggers as they host a virtual Tea Party.

Visit the Mine Pink Blog for all the information and a list of participating
Make Mine Pink Blogs.

Why Tea Party? Well what can be more fun, tea for two, tea for one, a princess tea, a mother/daughter tea, best friends tea, long lost friends tea, or to just take a moment to slow down and enjoy the tea.

Join in on the fun and host a virtual tea party too. We will be visiting all the Make Mine Pink blogs and yours too if you decide to host your own party.

You will see beautiful and unique tables set for tea; many will have a special theme. Will you join us and post a photo of your Tea Party on your very own blog?

Post a comment on Make Mine Pink’s Blog at www.makeminepink.blogspot.com and we will include you on the list. So expect many visitors ~ please have cookies ready...

My New Website!!!

2007-08-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have been working very hard and my new website is now done.....YEAH!!! Here's a little peak at the new design. Come and look around. As a part of my Grand Opening, I am offering a 10% percent discount on new orders!!! I have lots of new pillows, purses, diaper bags, pincushions, and hanging pocket pillows that I designed just for my new shop!

New web address is www.cottagegatedesigns.com

A little peak into my world.....

2007-07-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

In my "spare" time this summer I have been catching up on "to do" stuff around my house. I finally got my entire wrap around porch painted, banisters, and floor and I'm so happy. It looks so fresh and clean!! We have had an interesting summer here in Texas because of all the rain. My grass is green and my flowers are still blooming and it has not hit 100 yet.
My cottage garden is still pretty (not usual for end of July) and a little "wild", just how I like it....

Crazy Quilt.......Cottage Style!!

2007-07-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well, I have let time get away from me. Summer is always busy with the kids at home. I wanted to share some of my new creations which involve the lovely old Victorian design of Crazy quilting with a cottage spin. Most crazy quilting was darker rich fabrics. I am using all those pink roses we love, vintage laces, vintage fabrics, old embroidery, and anything else I am inspired by. Here are some pillows I have recently created, one of which is available in my boutique, and a sweet little pincushion. I do so enjoy designing these one of a kind pieces.

A Chair Makeover......Before and After

2007-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share one of my newest creations - a dreamy cottage makeover. I recently found these wonderful old metal twisted leg chairs with the original wood seats and had to have them - I could just see how they would look made over. Chair stared out bright yellow and with a fresh coat of white and a new pink rose ruffled skirt cushion, TADA!! it was transformed. I do enjoy making over old shabby vintage pieces I find in my foraging at yard sales, flea markets and estate sales!! Now what should I do with the heart shaped chair.....

Patchwork Cottage Pincushions

2007-05-22T04:21:00.000-07:00

I have been making pincushions for a while now, in all different designs, but this design is my biggest seller. Sometimes its nice to have something useful and PRETTY!My design process came from researching antique pincushions, especially from the Victorian era. The pincushion above is available is my MMP boutique.
All of my round patchwork pincushions consist of 8 triangular patches of lovely rose and ticking fabrics which are topstitched and interfaced with fusible fleece to keeps those pins steady. Bottom is interfaced with fusible fleece as well and entire pincushion is stuffed with a soft polyfil. Each little pincushion I create is a one of a kind design. I also make rose shaped pincushions which turn out to be small fabric sculptures - I am working on one now and will post when complete - they are quite time consuming but so pretty when finished! And I also have ideas of a crazy quilt pincushion - I have done some crazy quilt pillows and pocket pillows and think a little pincushion would just be so charming!

For all you L's out there.....a new lovely creation

2007-05-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Here is a new pillow I just designed with a gorgeous piece of vintage pink embroidery with pink roses and a lovely L script monogram which was originally on an old hankerchief. I paired it with pink roses (of course) and the absolute best pale pink vintage chenille - I am always trying to find this color and I finally found it. A sweet little ruffle edges the rest of pillow. This pillow is available through my Ebay auctions so check it out....

I've been tagged...twice!!

2007-05-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first time for this - I've been tagged by Arlene at The Lil Cottage Shoppe and Diane at Mama's Pocketbooks. I'm supposed to name 7 weird things about myself and then name 7 more people to be tagged, so here goes....

1. I truly am totally scared of caterpillars like most people are scared of spiders. They so creep me out that I have to get my son to get rid of them fast if I ever see one.

2.I absolutely cannot have overhead lights on- I would rather turn on the 7 lamps in my living room each night than have to turn on the overhead. If my hubby comes in and turns one on I have to turn it off and turn on the lamps and then smile sweetly at him....

3. I love all those cheesy Christmas movies on in December - I usually watch one every night during the holidays and I never fail to tear up.

4. Having the Weather Channel on without even watching it has always been soothing to me....kind of strange but there you go!

5. This one came from my hubby - according to him I take perfectly good things in our house and replace them with old things. His example was our doors which I take out and replace with old, sometimes in need of TLC, doors. Bless his heart, he does not understand that the plain newer boring doors are uninspired!!

6. I am quite the expert on Brown Recluse spiders, which we unfortunately have in our house and a bit obsessive about setting sticky traps for them in every room in our house!

7. Okay I'm all weirded out - can't think of anything else!! Now I tag:

Karen@Teacups & Twigs
Cathy@Treasured Heirlooms
Laura@Laura's Pretties
Dawn@My Hydrangea Home
Gerre@Gerres Beautiful Boutique
Michele@Sweet Yesterdays

Antique Postcard Fabric Transfer Creations

2007-05-03T04:08:00.000-07:00

I promised an update on my newest design and here it is.....I love antique Victorian postcards and got a wonderful cd of images that I can now transfer to a special fabric which can then be made into all sorts of lovely things. I was really thinking Mother's Day for these little beauties and you can find these right now in my Ebay auctions. They are very unique and a lovely way to show off old Victorian postcards.

Perfectly sweet gift idea for Mother's Day...

2007-04-29T20:35:00.000-07:00

I promised an update about a new design and here it is....Mom & Me matching purses (perfect for Grandma & Me as well!) Purses have lots of pink roses and ticking and each have a wonderful vintage rhinestone button, heart shaped for Mom and little bitty one for little girl's purse. This set is available in my Boutique at Make Mine Pink. Of course I can do these any time, not just for Mother's Day, so if you have a certain design in mind contact me about a custom set at apinnell@peoplepc.com

“Someone Will Win a Pink Diamond”

2007-04-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

We are so excited! As a proud member of MakeMinePink.com, we have joined with other Pink Boutiques and Make Mine Pink for the “Pink Diamond Campaign”.

Every year Make Mine Pink likes to do something special to honor our valued customers, clients and friends. In all, $2500 worth of fabulous pink prizes will be awarded throughout the contest with a Grand Prize of a genuine pink diamond pendant.

There are several fun ways to win prizes for the Campaign, by just visiting the boutiques at Make Mine Pink and locating the six diamonds hidden among the participating Pink Boutiques each of the six month, or you may see one of the Make Mine Pink boutique owners wearing her pink rhinestone “MMP” pin as she goes about day to day activities, or making a donation to a favorite women’s charity. A monthly prize will be awarded for May, June, July, August and September entries with a grand prize awarded for the month of October. It’s that easy!

Join us in our excitement by visiting the boutiques at Make Mine Pink.

For more information, you may visit http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=the-cottage-gate or the “Pink Diamond Campaign” link at Make Mine Pink.

PD Link at MMP~ http://www.makeminepink.com/pink-diamond/

One of a Kind Cottage Diaper Bags

2007-04-23T19:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to diaper bags, I do it all, from cottage, to chic, to retro!! I began designing my diaper bags with cottage florals, toiles, vintage laces, and lots of chenille ~ making them so soft and charming! I then began to get many requests for custom bags because there just weren't many cottage style diaper bags out there. Above is a little sampling of my bags. All my diaper bags include sturdy double pockets inside for all baby's necessities, and my custom label sewn inside. If you are interested in a custom diaper bag, email me at apinnell@peoplepc.com, and I would love to make your ideas for the perfect bag come to life.....

A little about my work.....

2007-04-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Roses, roses and more roses....is what you will usually find in my work, from faded old pink roses to vivid raspberry roses. I started out making lovely pillows with vintage linens and cottage florals, and now have quite a few other signature items, which I will feature over the nxt week or so right here. I also have a couple of new designs coming soon, one an old favorite, and one something entirely new ~ I'll give a little hint.......think One of a Kind, think Mother's Day!!